A friend of one of the Ben Gardner defendants gave evidence from the witness stand today.

IT expert Mr Gardner, 30, had been out celebrating his girlfriend Allana Devine's birthday when he was set upon by a group of men in Throwley Way, Sutton, on November 1 last year.

Ransom, 21, from Blake Close, and Collender, 21, from Wigmore Road, both Carshalton, and Dixon, 18, also from Carshalton, appeared at the Old Bailey charged with murder.

Anthony Downey, who was out with defendants Ross Collender, Daniel Ransom and Jordan Dixon on the night of Ben Gardner’s death, gave an account of how the events of November 1 unravelled.

Brian Altman QC, prosecuting, asked Mr Downey if he had seen the first punch thrown at Mr Gardner.

The 25-year-old replied: “Yes. Ross [Collender] hit him on the left side of his face. [Ben Gardner]lost his balance, his legs turned to jelly and he went to ground.

“Then another man came in and kicked him in the head.”

The court also heard Mr Downey had been arrested immediately after Mr Gardner's death and gave details of who had thrown the first punch to police.

Mr Gardner was trying to protect his girlfriend when he was attacked from behind by Collender, the court heard, before the other two defendants allegedly joined in the violent attack.

An ambulance was called but Mr Gardner, who worked for UCB in Sutton before joining Legal & General in Tadworth, Surrey last year, died the following night from his injuries.

Ransom was arrested immediately after the attack while Collender was tracked down later that evening. Dixon evaded police for two months but was finally was arrested on January 9.

A fourth defendant, Sarah Davey, 41, of Throwley Way, appeared charged with housing one of the accused while the investigation was ongoing. All four defendants denied the charges.

The trial, which is expected until mid-October, continues.